The Buffalo Bills made headlines in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft when they selected Matt Araiza.
It takes a very special punter to get drafted, as they are generally signed off of waivers.
Araiza was one of the most electrifying punters in the nation when he was in college, one of the first to make a splash at the position since Pat McAfee.
However, his Bills career didn’t last long, as an off-field accusation kept him from ever playing in a regular season game for them.
He was quickly cut from their roster and has been waiting for the past two years, hoping to get another chance in the NFL.
After it was announced that he was cleared of all charges, Ariaza was approached by the Kansas City Chiefs, signing a deal with the reigning champs.
While the deal’s details were initially unknown, Tom Pelissero has recently outlined what the punter is being paid.
Pelissero indicated that the Chiefs only signed him to a minimum deal, which seems to be a win-win scenario for both sides.
The #Chiefs signed Matt Araiza to a minimum deal with an injury split. So no financial risk as the champs give Araiza a chance to get his career back. https://t.co/snyVjQwAdv
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 23, 2024
The Chiefs get a new punter out of the deal, as Tommy Townsend is now a free agent.
For Ariaza, as Pelissero mentions, this is a second chance for him in the league.
If he can perform like he did in college, the Chiefs are in a great position with an inexpensive player on the books.
It will be interesting to see how Ariaza plays in 2024, especially since he has had the last two years off.
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